The one great theological contribution that Seventh-day Adventists have given to the Christian church is the truth pertaining to the heavenly sanctuary. This knowledge concerns important facts that have been hidden since the days of Pentecost. Because "the ways of God" are found in the sanctuary (Ps. 77: 13), there is little wonder that it has proved to be so valuable for study. The conception of the judgment, the Sabbath, the substitutionary atonement, and righteousness by faith are but a few subjects that have come to be more fully understood from a study of the sanctuary. The truths concerning the sanctuary have been the very foundation and central pillar of Adventism.
Peculiarly, the study of the sanctuary has dealt largely with the first and second apartments, while the subject of the court has not been so thoroughly considered. Since the sanctuary was composed of three distinct parts, it would seem reasonable to investigate the court as to its location and function.
The earthly sanctuary was an elaborate visual aid to teach the people daily about the true atonement of the heavenly sanctuary and to point them to Christ, their coming Saviour and Priest. The process of atonement as carried out in the typical service was in three parts, which corresponded to the three parts of the sanctuary. These, as mentioned, were the first and second apartments and the court. While the services in the first and second apartments were respectively propitiatory and expiatory, the service in the court was primarily preparatory. It was called preparatory because in the court the two factors that made atonement—blood and incense (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 353; Questions on Doctrines, p. 686)—were obtained by the priest in preparation for taking them into the holy places to make atonement. Here the sacrifice was made. Here our High Priest obtained the true blood and incense to take into the heavenly courts.
In reviewing the subject of the court of the heavenly sanctuary, we find clear evidence as to its existence and location. Three reasons to substantiate the existence of the court are as follow:
- The earthly or typical sanctuary had a court.
- The Bible supports its presence.
- The Spirit of Prophecy identifies the court.
The following Bible texts are helpful in studying this subject.
Revelation 11:1: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."
Revelation 11:2: "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."
These verses refer definitely to the heavenly sanctuary, including the altar in the court, for when John wrote these verses the Temple lay in ruins, destroyed by the Romans. The command was given to leave out the court and measure it not, for it was given to the Gentiles. The "forty and two months" mentioned here is a reiteration of the 1260-year prophecy of Daniel 7:25. Clearly the court mentioned is the earth. No other part of the heavenly sanctuary could be given to the Gentiles, because the first and the second apartments are in heaven. Furthermore, the court is where the victims were slain whose blood was to be ministered in the sanctuary. The anti-typical victim must die in the antitypical court, and He died on Calvary in Judea.
Revelation 11:19: "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."
This verse is similar and typifies the 1844 Movement. The heavenly sanctuary was revealed and the ark of His testament was seen. The events recorded on earth bringing in the last days are also mentioned. These are the earthquakes, the great thunder, the hailstorms, et cetera.
Hebrews 3:10: "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle."
The following excerpts from the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy will further aid in identifying and locating the court:
This verse, by deduction, is helpful in identifying the court. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, on Hebrews 13: 10 states: "But Christians have an altar, the cross of Calvary, and a sacrifice far surpassing the ancient animal sacrifices in value and efficacy." Since the cross is the altar of the Christian, by following the type, the court must be the earth, for the altar was located in the court.
The church of God below is one with the church of God above. Believers on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one church. Every heavenly intelligence is interested in the assemblies of the saints who on earth meet to worship God. In the inner court of heaven they listen to the testimony of the witnesses for Christ in the outer court on earth, and the praise and thanksgiving from the worshipers below is taken up in the heavenly anthem, and praise and rejoicing sound through the heavenly courts because Christ has not died in vain for the fallen sons of Adam. While angels drink from the fountainhead, the saints on earth drink of the pure streams flowing from the throne, the streams that make glad the city of our God. Oh, that we could all realize the nearness of heaven to earth! . . .
The temple of God is opened in heaven, and the threshold is flushed with the glory which is for every church that will love God and keep His commandments. We need to study, to meditate, and to pray. Then we shall have spiritual eyesight to discern the inner courts of the celestial temple.—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 366-368. (Italics supplied.)
Our great High Priest has made the only sacrifice that is of any value in our salvation. When He offered Himself on the cross, a perfect atonement was made for the sins of the people. We are now standing in the outer court, waiting and looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. No sacrifices are to be offered without, for the great High Priest is performing His work in the most holy place.—Signs of the Times, June 28, 1899.
Our great High Priest completed the sacrificial offering of Himself when He suffered without the gate. Then a perfect atonement was made for the sins of the people. Jesus is our Advocate, our High Priest, our Intercessor. Our present position therefore is like that of the Israelites, standing in the outer court, waiting and looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.—Quoted in Questions on Doctrine, pp. 663, 664.
It is evident from a review of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy writings that the court of the heavenly sanctuary is the earth. The cross where Christ was sacrificed is represented in the typical service by the altar. Christ, as the antitypical victim, was offered in the antitypical court. We are now in the outer court, waiting for our great High Priest to come from the inner courts of heaven to bring a close to the antitypical day of atonement.
With this conception of the earth as the court it would naturally follow that Christ's position while on earth was a dual role—that of Lamb and Priest. Born Priest (The Desire of Ages, pp. 52, 55; 1 Cor. 15: 24; Luke 1:35; Questions on Doctrine, p. 667; Heb. 2:16-18) He became the Lamb at His baptism (John 1:29; The Desire of Ages, p. 112) and was three and one-half years in coming to the altar. That Christ died as Lamb and Priest there can be no doubt. (See the Acts of the Apostles, p. 33; The Desire of Ages, p. 25; Questions on Doctrine, pp. 664-667.)
The four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John can be visualized as four pictures of the Priest in the court of the heavenly sanctuary doing His mediatorial work. To be the Mediator, Christ not only had to suffer and die for the sins of the fallen race but also to provide a holy life. Both these necessities were procured in the court.
This is how we as repentant sinners can be assured of an abundant entrance into the heavenly courts through the merits of the Sinless One. Christ as our Priest becomes the believers' substitute in the judgment day. This mediatorial position of Christ was dependent upon the phase of His priesthood developed in the court.
Without the preparatory service in the court, no atonement could be made.
